Pushing women past the fear of 'no'

If you want to be happy at work, the first step is realizing that your career is worth planning for

With women earning college degrees and promotions in record numbers, do we really need yet another book telling us what we're doing wrong at work?

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By Mary Ellen Slater

MailTribune.com

By Mary Ellen Slater

Posted Mar. 12, 2008 at 2:00 AM

By Mary Ellen Slater

Posted Mar. 12, 2008 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

With women earning college degrees and promotions in record numbers, do we really need yet another book telling us what we're doing wrong at work?

Especially one that refers to us as girls?

Ordinarily, I would say no, but the "The Girl's Guide to Kicking Your Career Into Gear" by Caitlin Friedman and Kimberly Yorio qualifies as an exception. The third installment in their "Girl's Guide" series offers a practical overview of what it takes to translate smarts and ambition into workplace success.

Great careers rarely happen by accident, Friedman and Yorio point out. "If you want to be happy at work, the first step is realizing that your career is worth planning for," they write. It's also worth fighting for. You have to go after what you want, without letting fear of rejection keep you down. "A lot of people are afraid of hearing the word 'no,' " Friedman said in a recent interview. "Instead of asking for something, they just resent not getting it."

Yorio and Friedman's advice is aimed at helping "girls" of all ages avoid that resentment and develop careers they love. That includes women who might otherwise bristle at being called girls beyond their Scouting days.

"We don't really attach any baggage to the word 'girls,' " Friedman said. For her, it feels inclusive, like chatting with your girlfriends.

"The Girl's Guide" contains many useful tools for women struggling to figure out what they want and how to get it, including how to handle some of the biggest obstacles they are likely to face. Lessons about the importance of assertiveness and flexibility are underscored with stories from Yorio and Friedman's lives, as well as those of dozens of other successful women they interviewed while writing the book.

"All of our books were inspired by our professional experiences," Friedman said, which have included major career changes for both women.

Some of my favorite advice from the book:

Don't be afraid to negotiate. For a lot of women the thought of "negotiating" inspires dread. To help them out of that rut, Friedman and Yorio spell out practical, individual strategies for asking for raises, promotions and flexible schedules. Even if you don't get exactly what you want, you will still benefit from the process of asking.

Don't be afraid of confrontation. Just be smart about it.

Don't let stereotypes stop you. There are still plenty of people who make assumptions about the career commitment of women, especially working mothers, but you don't have to feel boxed in by those tired beliefs.

Don't be afraid to sell yourself. "Selling is the whole ball game, girls, so grab a bat."